Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Inguinal Hernia: Discharge Instructions
What is an inguinal hernia?
A hernia is a small opening in the abdominal wall through
which abdominal contents, such as the intestine, can slip
through. This sometimes looks like a bubble under your
child's skin. An inguinal hernia is more common in boys
than girls. It is also more common in premature infants.
If your child has an inguinal hernia, you may notice
swelling in the inguinal (groin) area.
When your baby boy is growing in the uterus, the testicles
descend down a tunnel through the abdominal wall and into the
scrotum. Sometimes this opening fails to close and a small
opening remains into which the intestines can slide.
Surgery is needed to close the opening. Without surgery, the
abdominal contents can slip through the opening, become stuck
and loose their blood supply.
What happens during the surgery?
Surgery to repair an inguinal hernia takes about 1 to
1 and 1/2 hours. Your child will be given general anesthesia
and will be asleep for the procedure. The surgeon makes a cut
in the groin area and closes the opening in the abdominal
wall. Recovery from anesthesia takes 2 to 3 hours. Your
child will be able to go home when he is fully awake, able to
drink, and has a normal heartbeat and breathing patterns.
Discharge Instructions After Surgery
- Care of Incision
After surgery, your child has a small incision in the
groin of the side(s) operated on. This incision was
closed under the skin using stitches that dissolve on
their own and don't need to be removed. On the skin
there are strips of tape or skin glue to help the skin
heal smoothly with minimal scarring. These will peel off
in 5 to 10 days. Don't pull them off.
There may be bruising in the groin around the incision
and bruising and swelling in the scrotum. This is
normal and will go away in 1 to 2 weeks. The incision
does not require any special care. You may want to
avoid clothing that fits snugly over this area. You
can use a small gauze bandage to protect the incision
from being irritated by clothes if that is more
comfortable.
- Pain Control
Your child may need medicine the first few days after
surgery for pain control.
Your child's pain medicine is ______________________.
Give __________ every ______ hours as needed.
- Activity
Children will limit their activity if they are
uncomfortable. Your child may resume activity whenever
he feels ready. School-age children may miss 3 to 4 days
of school. Your child should not ride on straddle toys
or bicycles for a week. Your child should also avoid
rough play for several days.
- Bathing
Your child may bathe immediately. Baths help the area
heal and make the sore area feel better.
- Diet
Your child may eat what he wants. Encourage your child
to drink fluids.
- Additional Instructions
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
- Follow-up Appointment After Discharge
Your child needs to be rechecked and has an appointment
on ______________ at ________ o'clock with
_______________________.
Call your doctor if:
- Your child has pain that is not controlled by pain
medicines.
- Your child has a fever greater than 101ƒF (38ƒC).
- Your child has any bleeding from the wound not stopped by
5 minutes of direct pressure.
- Your child has pus draining from the wound or a large red
area around the wound.
- Your child has not urinated in a 12-hour period.
|